Victoria Argent contracts lycanthropy in Teen Wolf.
Lycanthropy is a mental disorder wherein a human being imagines that he or she is a werewolf. In many cases however, the subject is actually acurate in their assessment and they do in fact transform into a wolf-like creature under certain predetermined conditions. Those who suffer from Lycanthropy are often referred to as Lycanthropes. While most Lycanthropes assume the physical characteristics of a wolf, others only develop behaviorial aspects of an animal. A textbook definition for Lycanthropy was provided in the opening credits of the 1941 film The Wolf Man.
The process of becoming a werewolf varies, but can usually be traced to one of three different points of origin. One may be have a curse put upon them which turns them into a werewolf against their will. Others may be members of an actual species of werewolf and thus, are born with their special traits. In most cases however, a person becomes a werewolf after having been bitten or scratched by another werewolf. The actual process of transformation classically takes place during the three nights of the full moon, but more modern werewolves have also been shown to transform at will regardless of the lunar phase.